OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the photothermal and antibacterial activities of polydopamine-modified phycocyanin nanoparticles (PDA@PC NPs) and their capacity for promoting wound healing. METHODS: PDA@PC NPs were synthesized from phycocyanin (C-PC) and dopamine hydrochloride using a one-pot method. The photothermal activity of the nanoparticles was assessed in vitro by 808 nm laser irradiation, their biocompatibility was evaluated using CCK-8 assay, and their photothermal antibacterial activity by plate colony counting. In adult male BALB/c mice, two symmetrical full-thickness skin wounds (1.0 cm ×1.0 cm) were created on both sides of the spine, and 200 μL of Staphylococcus aureus suspension was inoculated into the wounds. The mice were divided into control group, PDA@PC NPs group, and PDA@PC NPs with laser irradiation group, and wound healing rates and histomorphological changes in the wound tissues were evaluated on days 0, 7 and 14 after modeling. RESULTS: The synthesized PDA@PC NPs exhibited no obvious cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 500 μg/mL and showed strong photothermal and antibacterial activities in response to 808 nm laser irradiation. In the mouse models, the size of the infected skin wounds showed substantial reduction at 7 and 14 days in PDA@PC NPs group and PDA@PC NPs with laser irradiation group, and the mean wound healing rate was faster in the latter group. HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining revealed extensive granulation tissue formation and collagen deposition on the wound surfaces in both of the treatment groups, and these changes were more obvious in the PDA@PC NPs with laser irradiation group. CONCLUSIONS PDA@PC NPs possess excellent photothermal and antibacterial activities and can effectively promote wound healing in mice.
Animals ; Indoles/chemistry* ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; Polymers/chemistry* ; Phycocyanin/chemistry* ; Skin/injuries* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*

Objective To observe the efficacy of oropharyngeal muscle exercise for relieving obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) among stroke survivors.Methods Fifty stroke survivors with moderate OSAS were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,each of 25.Both groups were given routine drugs and rehabilitation,while the observation group was additionally provided with oropharyngeal muscle exercises during the daytime for 20 minutes twice a day for6 weeks.The control group received deep breathing therapy.Before and after the 6 weeks of treatment,both groups were evaluated using polysomnography.Their sleep quality and daytime sleepiness were measured using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and the Stanford sleepiness scale.Any changes in the patients' pharyngeal morphology after exercise were evaluated using MRI.Results After the oropharyngeal muscle exercises,the apnea hypoventilation index and minimum SaO2 ％,the snore index and sleep quality improved significantly.Daytime sleepiness was significantly relieved.Some structural remodeling of the pharyngeal airvay was observed by MRI,including significantly larger retropalatal distance and shorter length of the soft palate.The retropalatal distance was positively and correlated with the duration of exercise while the length of soft palate correlated negatively.Conclusion Exercising the oropharyngeal muscles is a promising alternative treatment for stroke survivors with moderate OSAS.It improves the morphology of the oropharynx to relieve obstruction during sleeping.

Objective:To improve the TLC identification method in the quality standard for Yangyin Qingfei granules by identifying paeoniflorin and radix scrophulariae on the same condition plate. Methods:The preparation method for paeoniflorin sample solution in the original standard of TLC identification was improved, the extraction method was water-saturated n-butanol extraction, and the reference crude herb solution of radix scrophulariae was prepared. Simultaneous TLC identification of paeoniflorin and radix scrophular-iae was carried out according to the method described in the original standard. Results:The improved TLC method could be used in the simultaneous identification of paeoniflorin and radix scrophulariae, the spots were clear, and the separation and reproducibility were promising without interference. Conclusion:The improved method is more useful in the quality control of the product with simplified operation.

Objective:To establish the determination method for four lurasidone hydrochloride enantiomers by HPLC. Methods:Lurasidone hydrochloride enantiomers were separated on a CHIRALPAK AD-H column (250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5μm). The mobile phase consisted of hexane-ethanol-diethylamine ( 90∶10∶0. 1) at a flow rate of 1. 0 ml·min-1 and the column temperature was at 40℃. The detection wavelength was 230nm. Results:The resolution of lurasidone hydrochloride enantiomers was above 2. 0. The linear calibra-tion curves were obtained over the range of 5-120 μg· ml-1 for all the enantiomers (r=0. 999 9). The recovery was above 99. 0%with RSD below 0. 5%. The detection limits were 5ng. Conclusion:The method is simple, accurate and rapid, and suitable for the de-termination and quality control.